I just spent the last two weeks filing both U.S. and Canadian corporate taxes.
And frankly, it was absurd.
You pay money to earn money.
Then you pay money to report that money.
Then you send the government your money…
…only for them to take days just to process the payment (Looking at you, CRA)
No clarity.
No guarantee your money is even being used well.
Somehow, in an era of AI, instant payments, and real-time everything, dealing with government systems still feels like an endurance sport.
That experience sparked a bigger realization:
The biggest problem young people face today isn’t a lack of talent or ideas.
It’s institutional friction.
And yes — it directly affects you, even if you’ve never paid taxes.
But FIRST
If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks:
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Best tools for building your passion project
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📘
The One Skill School Hopes You Never Learn
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What is “institutional friction"?
Institutional friction is what happens when systems move slower than real life.
It’s outdated processes.
Siloed agencies.
Rules designed for a world that no longer exists.
It’s when:
- Housing approvals take years while rents skyrocket
- Healthcare funding exists, but access doesn’t improve
- Innovation is funded, but rarely scaled in Canada
- Skilled immigrants arrive… then get stuck in credentialing limbo
The intention is often good.
The execution is where everything breaks down.
Our institutions optimize for process, not impact.
Why you should care (yes, even as a teen)
You might be thinking: “I don’t pay taxes yet. This isn’t my problem.”
That’s exactly why it is your problem.
These systems shape:
- How hard it is to buy or rent a home in your 20s
- Whether healthcare works when you need it
- If starting a business here is worth it
- And consequentially whether you can get employed easily after graduation
When institutions can’t move at the pace of the problems they govern, the cost shows up as:
- Fewer opportunities
- Lower trust
- Slower upward mobility
You don’t inherit just a country.
You inherit its systems.
This isn’t about “small fixes”
Our systems were built for a slower era.
Back when:
- Decisions took months because problems evolved slowly
- Paper processes were “normal”
- Feedback loops were weak or nonexistent
Today, that mismatch costs us time, money, and momentum.
Fixing this isn’t about tweaking a form or adding another department.
It requires institutional modernization:
- Streamlined processes
- Integrated technology
- Clear accountability
- Faster decision-making where stakes are high
This isn’t about recklessness.
It’s about shifting from rule-bound administration to outcome-driven governance.
Why this generation matters most
We have faced moments like this before:
- Post-war reconstruction
- National infrastructure builds
- Major social reforms
We succeeded when clear purpose met disciplined execution.
This generation—you—will decide whether:
- Institutions evolve
- Or opportunity continues to bottleneck
Even if you never work in government, you’ll interact with it constantly:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Taxes
- Business
- Immigration
- Permits/Licenses
Understanding how these systems work—and where they fail—is a powerful skill.
The real takeaway
You don’t need to be political.
You don’t need to have all the answers.
You do need to be aware.
Because a country that ignores inefficiency is a country quietly limiting its future.
And the people who understand systems early?
They don’t wait for permission.
They build around friction.
They create leverage where others get stuck.
That’s the kind of thinking OCE exists to develop.
Not to complain about broken systems—but to understand them well enough to build better ones.
Like what you read? Share with friends!
PS. This summer, we are going to tackle pressing global issues and drive innovation in regions (such as your own community) where it is needed the most. Want in?
We run a summer cohort for ambitious youth (high school and undergrads) to work directly with world-class founders while learning from Silicon Valley leaders.
You can also explore purposeful opportunities through our Impact Internship Opportunities Database.
Get Curious.
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Lena
https://www.openclassroomexperience.com/
